The Pergola and Hill Garden in the West of Hampstead Heath is one of London's hidden treasures. People often walk into it's grounds believing that they've invaded someone's private property. But it is very much open to the public. And it does have that look of being a secret garden. It's often been described as having a sense of faded grandeur. So it's hardly surprising that it has become a popular place for artists, film-makers and photographers. And it was all brought about by a wealthy philanthropist who bought the surrounding property in 1904, and then proceeded to build a Pergola, completing it in 1906. Up until around the mid 1990's before the major overhaul and building refurbishments, the Pergola had fallen on hard times and many of it's pillars had collapsed and were scattered everywhere. It was basically an abandoned ruin. Oddly enough I thought it had it's attractions before the big overhaul. And being situated in the West Heath, home of one of London's major gay cruising areas, the Pergola was a place of clandestine meetings during the day as well as the night. And although the Hill Garden and Pergola was locked each night, that didn't stop couples climbing over the gate for privacy. In fact the Hill and Pergola was, and no doubt still is, a magical place at night, particularly with a full Moon in the night sky. I'd seen so many photo and film projects taking place there that it even gave me the idea of doing several of my own photo shoots as well as a bit of filming there. And walking around there on a warm Summer night really heightened your senses. There was a kind of feeling of excitement with a hint of danger. You never knew what you might see. I probably wouldn't attempt it now as the place is now more looked after, but back in those heady days of the 1990's a friend and I did some very early morning filming around 5.00 am one night when there was plenty of Summer daylight while the rest of the London was sleeping. I was the model for my friend who was the video cameraman. And sometimes back then we weren't the only one's there. There were others. And I say others because one night I saw a boy dressed in a Greek tunic looking like Apollo, or was it Mercury? And he was walking around the appropriate settings of The Pergola looking like some ghostly vision. I tried to catch up with him in the hope of arranging some filming with him. But when I thought I'd caught up with him he seemed to just vanish into the night. I always remember that as he walked around the pillars and vines he sang a soft tune that faded as I lost him. It was all so surreal, like another world. But that's what the Heath was like at night, totally surreal. I guess that it's not so active these days and hasn't been since the birth of modern technology with it's hook up apps, the webcam sites and just generally the world of social media. I didn't actually start blogging until Jan 2007 but I sometimes wonder if I would have been brave enough to write about all the eye-popping things I'd seen and done there if blogs were around in the 1990's. I always imagined that I might have called that blog 'The Secret Garden of Delights' or maybe 'Debauchery After Midnight.' Although I'm sure I would have kept it's location a secret. It's odd but I don't think I've had a night time walk on the Heath since just before my illness 5 years ago. I just might take a Summer night walk up there soon if that warm weather does arrive. _________________________________________ And so on my visit to the Pergola on Thursday on a sunny early evening I passed at least three different groups of film makers and fashion photographers, all taking advantage of the early Summer evening light. And it is a popular place for fashion shoots with it's faded grandeur setting. I'm forever opening up a magazine and recognizing images of where the Pergola has been used as a backdrop. THE HILL GARDEN AND PERGOLA (Historic Britain). |
Above: Another photo shoot taking place just outside The Hill Garden. The model being shot by a Japanese camera team cant be seen as she's lying low in the grass. |
Above: The Pond in The Hill Garden. Below: The Hill Garden leading to The Pergola. |
AND SO BACK TO THE PERGOLA |
![]() |
Above: A Moonlight wreath made of Honesty seed pods. Image via & more info at Local Harvest website. |
Above: The first Honesty seedling broke through just yesterday. And I only planted them about 5 days ago having stored them away over the Winter. |
Summer Roses in Golders Hill Park, The West Heath. |
Above: Golders Hill Park, all part of Hampstead Heath. |
What an interesting place and interesting personal connection. The photos are great, both human and the Heath.
ReplyDeleteAndrew, Well I do feel privileged living fairly near to these parts of Hampstead.
ReplyDeleteAnd yet some Londoners might need to travel miles to get to such a big green open
space.
I should try and get in a smiling photo amongst those old stills.
A green and pleasant land indeed. I've never been to HH and if I ever get back to the UK, I must take a long walk there. Too bad you didn't get a shot of the Asian boy up on his tippy toes, flexing every muscle. It would have been a long wait I suspect. - Ian
ReplyDeleteWell, Dee, weren't you the pretty little thing!
ReplyDeleteThanks Vera. How sweet of you to say. And still trying to keep young looking.
Delete